Throwback Thursday- Say This, Not That to Reinforce Vocabulary Learning

Part of TEACHING vocabulary to AAC users (or any learner) involves reinforcement. Reinforcement is more than just facilitating positive self esteem. It is also about providing feedback that will help increase the skill you are trying to teach. It’s more than learning specific new words but also about strategies to attack learning new words outside of the therapy or classroom environment. Below are some examples of ways to make the most of your reinforcement and some ways to NOT.

(click for some great written reinforcement examples).

🙂 SAY THIS…

General Principles of Reinforcement for Vocabulary: Be specific to the goal. Use words that explain the skill you want to occur more often. Use excited positive vocal inflection, Be impressed!

‘Wow you discovered a NEW WAY of saying take in, you used consumed’!
‘Awesome giving so many different examples of consumed’!
‘Great using such descriptive words, I can really SEE what you are saying’!
‘Super finding so many words that can MEAN the same thing’!
‘Good thinking about our new word in DIFFERENT WAYS!’
‘Great FINDING ALL of the concepts/words that can be consumed’’!
‘Wow, you understood that with such depth, It’s like you are a 6th grader instead of a 5th grader’.
‘Love how you found all the opposite words, you really know what consumed is different from, what it is not’!
‘Wow, you really figured that one out, you asked for help’!
‘Awesome, super awesome, you used the clue guide’!
Extra Bonuses- Give a written note of reinforcement for student to give to their teacher or parent, etc. with specific reinforcement-
Wow, you are learning so many words, you get a certificate for being a ‘word helper’ for your friends (classmates, teacher, parents, etc.),

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PrAACtical AAC supports a community of professionals and families who are determined to improve the communication and literacy abilities of people with significant communication difficulties. It was founded in 2011 by two SLP professors, Carole Zangari and the late Robin Parker, around a shared passion for AAC.

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PrAACtical AAC's Mission: To improve the level of AAC services available to individuals with significant communication challenges by supporting speech-language pathologists and other interested stakeholders